'92 3.0L cranks but will not fire...

[357max]

I was driving about 65 mph and the engine died. Turns over fine but won't fire up. Was wondering if it has a timing belt or a chain? Engine only has 78K on it.

 

[Rearanger]

Turns over fine but won't fire up.

Spark?

 

[357max]

Spark at coil pack didn't check at plugs, will check that next.

 

[357max]

No spark at plugs. Does that mean that the timing chain has jumped?

 

[357max]

Pulled the distributor cap off and cranked engine, rotor does not move.... any help?

 

[Rearanger]

Pull the distributor and see if the drive gear or shaft is broken. You can also look to see if distributor drive gear off camshaft turns.

 

[357max]

The gear on the distributor is chewed off. Thanks for the help!

 

[Rearanger]

The gear on the distributor is chewed off.

Glad you found it - easy fix. Be careful to set engine to TDC Compression when installing new distributor.

 

[357max]

Yeah that could get interesting. I tried to replace just the gear but ended up splitting the oil pump shaft, so now i'm waiting for a new distributor... The teeth on the gear were worn really thin, would that indicate that it may have been to low? A guy at the parts store said to put grease on the gears and crank the engine without the coil attatched to see how they mesh up, and that i may have to shim it up a little. Any thoughts about that? Also if the engine doesn't fire when i put the new distributor in at TDC would that mean that it was TDC exhaust, and i could rotate the rotor 180 deg. to get to TDC compression?

 

[Rearanger]

I'm not familiar with the 92. A Haynes Manual should give you the proper procedure. The dist. gear is probably plastic and may have just worn out. Gear should be oiled from engine so grease would not be necessary except maybe for assembly grease?? Get a manual to avoid mistakes.

Getting to TDCC is not hard and there are several methods. Easiest may be to cover spark plug hole with your thumb and feel for air compression as engine cranked by hand. I have a whistle that plugs into spark plug hole.

 

[357max]

Rearanger, thanks for the replies and the advice it was helpful. The new distributor is in and the engine is running. Thanks again.

 

[357max]

12K later I had to replace the distributor AGAIN! Any clues as to why this thing is eating gears for lunch?

 

[Rearanger]

Who made the new distributor? Is the gear plastic or metal? Maybe oil not getting to dist. gear??